As part of the Greencajt festival, the National Environmental Awards 2022 – Green Prix were awarded

The national environmental awards for 2022 – Green Prix were awarded to the best projects and individuals who have successfully contributed to environmental preservation and the achievement of climate goals. The awards were presented as part of Greencajt festival in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, in collaboration with the Croatian Chamber of Commerce.

The Green Prix was awarded in six categories, five of which were evaluated by a professional committee, while the selection of the Greenlider 2022 award winner involved the public.

By the decision of the general public, the Greenlider award for 2022 was won by Mario Romulić, a Croatian ‘wildlife’ photographer who began working on his biodynamic farm OPG Čudesna šuma during the pandemic, where he organizes workshops, creates and cultivates ‘Food Forests’ that mimic the natural bio-systems of young forests, combining the concepts of orchards and gardens.

– We hope that such examples will raise ecological awareness and encourage both the general public to change their behavior patterns in everyday life and corporations to direct their business towards green values.

All awardees and those nominated for the Green Prix are drivers of green change – they exemplify how certain projects can make significant strides in implementing sustainable development and climate goals – said Vinko Filipić, director of the Greencajt Festival.

The Green Prix for the green campaign of 2022 was awarded to Hanza media for the project ‘Reduce bills, turn on the Sun!’, while the best green innovation was chosen as Ecolant – an ecological lantern made from non-flammable paper.

The award in the category of local and regional self-governments as drivers of green change went to the city of Varaždin for the project ‘Solar Potential Map’, while in the category of education for a climate future, the award was won by the Secondary School ‘Ivo Padovan’ Blato, for the project ‘Practice for Excellence’, renewable energy sources – installation of a 10kWh photovoltaic power plant. The winners who excelled in community decarbonization are Valmar Riviera and E.ON Croatia.

– The transition, or transformation towards different models of management and action, different ways of production and consumption, is not simple and cannot happen overnight. However, there are those to whom we must especially thank for their exceptional commitment, as seemingly small steps are making changes of great significance for our society as a whole – emphasized Davor Filipović, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development.

The award ceremony also featured Mrs. Alenka Košiša Čičin-Šain, acting director of the Environmental Protection and Energy Fund, who clearly stated that – Activities dedicated to achieving climate goals at the national and regional levels are more important than ever before, as at this moment we can see, but also feel, changes that threaten our well-being, whether it is about weather disasters, electricity and gas consumption, or the instability of the entire ecosystem – .